Darren Sammy alleges racism within SunRisers Hyderabad camp
Sammy said that at the time when he was being called with the word, he didn't know the meaning, and his team-mates used to laugh every time after calling him by that name.
New Delhi: Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has released a video, alleging racism within the SunRisers Hyderabad camp.
Last week, Sammy had lost his cool as he learnt the meaning of the word ‘Kalu,’ a jibe which was directed at him during his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with SunRisers Hyderabad The former Windies T20 World Cup-winning skipper had said that he along with Sri Lanka player Thisara Perera were subjected to ‘Kalu’ chants when they played for SunRisers Hyderabad.
However, at that time, the player did not specify as to who used to direct these slurs at him, but now the player has released a video, saying he will message all those who called him with that word.
“I have played all over the world and I have been loved by many people, I have embraced all dressing rooms where I have played, so I was listening to Hasan Minhaj as to how some of the people in his culture describe black people,” Sammy said in a video posted on his Instagram account.
Watch what Sammy said:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBL-fuglF6o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“This does not apply to all people, so after I found out a meaning of a certain word, I had said I was angry on finding out the meaning and it was degrading, instantly I remembered when I played for SunRisers Hyderabad, I was being called exactly the same word which is degrading to us black people,” he added.
Sammy said that at the time when he was being called with the word, he didn’t know the meaning, and his team-mates used to laugh every time after calling him by that name.
“I will be messaging those people, you guys know who you are, I must admit at that time when I was being called as that word I thought the word meant strong stallion or whatever it is, I did not know what it meant, every time I was called with that word, there was laughter at that moment, I thought teammates are laughing so it must be something funny,” Sammy said.
“Now, I realise it was degrading, I will be texting you guys and I will ask you as to when you called me with that name, did you all mean it in any bad way or form? I have had great memories in all my dressing rooms, so all those who used to you call me with that word, think about it, let’s have a conversation, if it was in a bad way then I would be really disappointed,” he added.
The former Windies skipper has been a vocal supporter of the protests that are currently going on in the United States over the death of an African-American man named George Floyd.
Sammy had also made an appeal to the ICC and other cricket boards to support the fight against social injustice and racism. Opening batsman Chris Gayle had also condoled the demise of Floyd and had said that he too has been a victim of racism.
Ever since the demise of Floyd, protests erupted from the demonstrations in cities from San Francisco to Boston. (ANI)